1. Alzheimer’s
a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities
serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease
accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.
known as Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (SDAT)also
terminal disease was first described by a German psychiatrist
and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named
after him.
Many scientists believe that Alzheimer's disease results from an
increase in the production or accumulation of a specific protein
(beta-amyloid protein) in the brain that leads to nerve cell death.
, although the greatestAlzheimer's is not a normal part of aging
peopleknown risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of
with Alzheimer's are 65 and older. But Alzheimer's is not just a
disease of old age. Up to 5 percent of people with the disease
onset),-have early onset Alzheimer's (also known as younger
which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s.
Symptoms of Alzheimer's:
Just like the rest of our bodies, our brains change as we age .
Most of us eventually notice some slowed thinking and
occasional problems with remembering certain things. However,
serious memory loss, confusion and other major changes in the
way our minds work may be a sign that brain cells are failing.
The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty
remembering newly learned information because Alzheimer's
changes typically begin in the part of the brain that affects
learning. As Alzheimer's advances through the brain it leads to
increasingly severe symptoms, including disorientation, mood
and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time
and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and

2. professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior
changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking
Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease:
Scientists don’t yet fully understand what causes AD, but
it is clear that it develops because of a complex series of
events that take place in the brain over a long period of
time. It is likely that the causes include genetic,
environmental, and lifestyle factors.
Some drug therapies propose that AD is caused by
reduced synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Other cholinergic effects have also been proposed, for
example, initiation of large-scale aggregation of amyloid
leading to generalized neuroinflammation.
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a build-up of
proteins in the brain. Though this cannot be measured in a
living person, extensive autopsy studies have revealed this
phenomenon. The build-up manifests in two ways:
Plaques– deposits of the protein beta-amyloid that accumulate
in the spaces between nerve cells
Tangles – deposits of the protein tau that accumulate inside of
nerve cells
Risk factors
Some things are more commonly associated with Alzheimer's
disease - not seen so often in people without the disorder. These
factors may therefore have some direct connection. Some are
or modifiable factors (for example, reducing the riskpreventable
may in turn cut the risk ofdiseaseheartordiabetesof
dementia).

3. If researchers gain more understanding of the risk factors, or
scientifically prove any "cause" relationships for Alzheimer's,
this could help to find ways to prevent it or develop treatments.
How Alzheimer effect on brain :
In Alzheimer's disease, there is an overall shrinkage of brain tissue. The
grooves or furrows in the brain, called sulci (plural of sulcus), are
noticeably widened and there is shrinkage of the gyri (plural of gyrus),
the well-developed folds of the brain's outer layer. In addition, the
ventricles, or chambers within the brain that contain cerebrospinal fluid,
are noticeably enlarged. In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, short-
term memory begins to fade (see box labeled 'memory') when the cells in
the hippocampus, which is part of the limbic system, degenerate.
Ths brain :
The brain is made of three main parts: the forebrain, midbrain,
and hindbrain. The forebrain consists of the cerebrum,
thalamus, and hypothalamus (part of the limbic system). The
midbrain consists of the tectum and tegmentum. The hindbrain
is made of the cerebellum, pons and medulla. Often the
midbrain, pons, and medulla are referred to together as the
brainstem.
Treatment
Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's. But drug and non-
drug treatments may help with both cognitive and behavioral
symptoms.
Researchers are looking for new treatments to alter the course of
the disease and improve the quality of life for people with
dementia.